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Shiatsu - This is a Japanese technique and is over 1000 years old. It is basically a form of massage that combines gentle manipulation and body movement with finger and hand pressure. Here again, the goal is to balance the body's energy. This Japanese technique is based on the belief that stress causes the blockage of the body's energy channels situated in different layers. A trained practitioner can identify the channels closest to the surface of the body and use the technique to release stress. Meditation and Visualisation-Concentration is the key word in meditation. It is a form of 'letting go' by sitting in a comfortable and secure place without any distractions and slowly willing emotional and physical suffering to go away. Visualisation is also a form of meditation, the difference being that it is a directed meditation. By a method of directed relaxation, the stress levels are reduced and attitudes to stress inducing situations changed. In addition to actually reducing stress, this technique can channel the stress into resulting in positive performance. This technique is generally practiced by sports persons who go through high levels of stress. Transcendental Meditation (TM)-A form of meditation introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1960s, this technique also uses the same approach of simply 'letting go'. Deepak Chopra commenting on this technique says that by practicing this meditation, "the mind learns to go beyond the noise of thought to a region that is silent, peaceful and whole. It transcends sickness to find health." In this "purely mechanical technique", when practiced for just 20 minutes every morning, "one sits quietly in a chair with eyes closed, using, as instructed, a special word called a 'mantra' selected not for its meaning but strictly for its sound. That sound alone attracts the mind and leads it, effortlessly and naturally, to a slightly subtler level of the thinking process." says Chopra. Many corporates have regular TM sessions to relax their executives and help them perform better. The Alexander Technique - This is a lesser known technique that was introduced in the late 19th century by Frederick Mathias Alexander and is generally practiced by actors and dancers. It is known to cure stress related ailments including hypertension, ulcers and even dysmenorrheal and is very popular abroad. In this, important parts of the body are 'adjusted' to release tension - for eg. the area where the neck and body meet is gently manipulated and immediate relief is felt. There are professionally trained instructors in the Alexander Technique abroad who are in great demand. Reflexology -This technique is based on the stimulus-response principle and uses the stimulation of specific reflex points in one part of the body to produce a reflex response in another part. Reflexology is equally beneficial when administered by yourself or by someone else. Foot reflexology is the most commonly practiced, but it may also be performed on the hands and ears.
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